The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Luv2Shoot on March 20, 2009, 12:53:44 PM
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I'm curious with all the ammo hoarding/saving or as I like to say "stocking up"... how much is too much. I currently have 2000 -3000 rds of ammo for every caliber I own. (5.56, .380, 40s&W, 38 Special, .410ga .22, 12ga)
I find myself still looking for more and purchasing what I can find. Granted I do go to the range once a week maybe not as often as some of you but more than most people. It's just plain addictive.
My name is Mike and I'm an Ammoholic.
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I'm curious with all the ammo hording/saving or as I like to say "stocking up"... how much is too much. I currently have 2000 -3000 rds of ammo for every caliber I own. (5.56, .380, 40s&W, 38 Special, .410ga .22, 12ga)
I find myself still looking for more and purchasing what I can find. Granted I do go to the range once a week maybe not as often as some of you but more than most people. It's just plain addictive.
My name is Mike and I'm an Ammoholic.
You can NEVER have to many guns or ammo!!!!!!!! ;D
Keep "stocking up" :P
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I'm curious with all the ammo hording/saving or as I like to say "stocking up"... how much is too much. I currently have 2000 -3000 rds of ammo for every caliber I own. (5.56, .380, 40s&W, 38 Special, .410ga .22, 12ga)
I find myself still looking for more and purchasing what I can find. Granted I do go to the range once a week maybe not as often as some of you but more than most people. It's just plain addictive.
My name is Mike and I'm an Ammoholic.
/quote]
Hi Mike!
Its hording if you don't have it, it's preparedness if you do.
My name is Gerry and I'm an Ammoholic
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The answer, as always depends on what you are stocking up for. If you worry about TEOTWAWKI then you need all the ammo you can get. If you worry about less pressing matters then you would reduce the supply to a couple years of your estimated use.
I have 3 storage levels;
Deep storage (long term storage for when everything else is gone)
Ready storage (mid term storage for when the S hit's the F)
Using ammo (what you use regularly)
My rule of thumb is;
Deep storage;
500 rounds for each handgun, 1000 rounds for each rifle, 250 shotgun shells of each TYPE (250 00 buck, 250 71/2 shot, 250 slugs etc.) for each weapon and 10,000 rounds of .22lr. All crated for long term storage (sealed tins are best). Note I say for each WEAPON, that means if you have 4 9mm's you should have 500 rounds for each. I would suggest that this storage be kept for only your SHTF weapons. Pick the ones you plan to use ONLY for survival and not every weapon you own. This stuff should be stored to maximize storage life even if that means it is not readily accessible, it is meant for when everything else has run out.
Ready storage;
This should be about the same as the deep storage but stored where it can be gotten too. I suggest using ammo cans for this as tins can be a bummer to get open in a hurry. This is your go-to ammo when you normal supply is running out and you need to use it without wasting a half hour getting at it. You can cut down on the amount of .22lr and shotgun ammo if you want but keep the centerfire rifle and pistol high as this is the stuff you fight with.
Using ammo;
What you shoot all the time and including all the various calibers and stuff. Figure out what you shoot in a year or two and double it for safety. You reloading stuff should be in this category as well unless you can insure that you can store the componants in a manner that keeps them useful for the long term.
The key to keeping this to manageable levels is to define what you need for various tasks. Pick the best weapons for the purpose you envision, keep them the same (all Glocks, 1911's, whatever) and minimize the calibers to reduce volume. If you like .45acp and your life-partner prefers a 9mm pick the one you can both handle and use only it for SHTF use, or pick a compromise like the .40 S&W, whatever. Remember, the guns for TSHTF are for just that, if you want to pack your .45 or .44mag in the meantime cool, but get a dedicated SHTF weapons as well. You should also stick to common calibers, .357 SIG and 10mm are good rounds but 9mm, .40 S&W and .45acp are more available and you are more likely to obtain them easier through barter or gleaning than the oddballs, being able to obtain ammo through other sources will keep you from having to use your stored stuff. If you decide to go with a less common caliber, like the 5.45x39 or 7.62x54r because you can get it cheap, then at least double the quantities for each level of storage.
Remember too, keep large quantities of accessories stored too. I know a guy with 5,000 rounds for his AK and 5 magazines he also has no spare parts and only a small quantity of cleaning supplies, he is NOT prepared IMO. A magazine fed weapon without magazines is a crappy single-shot, and a broken part makes it a club and a weapon you cannot maintain will soon be useless. If you have 3 magazines for your EDC pistol you should have at least as many spares in each level, rifle mags should be kept in bulk, I want at least 25 and 50 or more if possible. One other thing is training, if you use a scope, that's fine but make sure you have good iron-sight as backup. STOP DUMPING YOUR MAGS ON THE GROUND! Most schools teach you to drop your mags for faster reloads but in a SHTF situation any mag you drop is likely to be lost or damaged, the SEAL's and Marines can afford to replace them, can you?
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I'd say if you have more ammo on hand then you shoot in a year, you have too much. I recently had a friend boost about buying 500k primers... " so where are you going to store them for the next 20 years?" ;D
He didn't like that comment, niether did his wife.
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Warhawke,
I like your thinking. I have been accused of hoarding, causing panic, panicing, causing shortages ... However, In many calibers I have a hard time even finding enough to feed my weekly habits. According to your criteria I am almost an anti ;)
I am frustrated, as I'm sure many are, that I can't just go out and plink or practice without worryiing about shorting myself for matches coming up through the summer. I have set aside many boxes labeled for certain events so I don't oops my way out of being able to participate. Right now I have ZERO ammo for my open gun, and I am waiting for top of the line expensive Federal primers, because that is all I can find available.
It is not hoarding or even stocking up when you can forsee shooting it all up within the next six months to a year!
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The answer, as always depends on what you are stocking up for. If you worry about TEOTWAWKI then you need all the ammo you can get. If you worry about less pressing matters then you would reduce the supply to a couple years of your estimated use.
Good, if a bit conservative advice. However, living in a hurricane zone as I do, and keeping a 30 days supply of water and food (mostly stuff I'll eat anyway like rice, black beans, jarred pasta sauce, tuna etc. and just buying in triplicate when I run out, I get the point). My question is TEOTWAWWKI? WTF? I'm just curios.
fightingquaker13
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The End Of The World As We Know It
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The End Of The World As We Know It
Would it be trite to say, "And I feel fine"?
fightingquaker13
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Would it be trite to say, "And I feel fine"?
fightingquaker13
Yes.
;D
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The only time you can have "to much" guns and ammo is if you have to evacuate, move or run. Then you have to choose what you can carry and either sell or stash the rest.
I'd say if you have more ammo on hand then you shoot in a year, you have too much. I recently had a friend boost about buying 500k primers... " so where are you going to store them for the next 20 years?" ;D
He didn't like that comment, niether did his wife.
It's either going to stay where it is (she doesn't like option A ::) ) OR Some of her crap gets cleaned out to make room (she REALLY hates option B ;D )
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The only time you can have "to much" guns and ammo is if you have to evacuate, move or run. Then you have to choose what you can carry and either sell or stash the rest.
It's either going to stay where it is (she doesn't like option A ::) ) OR Some of her crap gets cleaned out to make room (she REALLY hates option B ;D )
Divorced you say?Amazing. ;D
fightingquaker13
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I've been saving for a while,...
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/Ammo.jpg)
Just a couple hundred more, and I'm good,...really, I'll have enough,....
Alright, maybe just a few more rds...
NEVER ENOUGH... 8)
OK, this is not my stash,... Seriously, I look for deals and buy what I can afford. Some time ago a dealer had 7.65 x 54 Arg. Mauser rds. Non-Berdan primed BTFMJ mil-surp. I bought them all because the Norma rds. are $38.00+ for 20, and this is not the easiest round to find.
As far as "common" rds? Yes I stocked up on 5.56/.223. right around 2000rds. .45, .40, 9mm, .380, .45LC, .38, & .357, I have a good bit. I have been purchasing more, and shooting less, although I still go to the range 2 or 3 times a week. I just "ration" my range amount.
IMHO, I think the ammo hoarding and supply issue will "hopefully" cool off, but as Col. Jeff Cooper stated, I advise you to keep your own stocks in good shape.
12g, I have a variety of loads, maybe 500.